The much anticipated Archdiocesan Financial Summit took place at Curepe parish hall Saturday, February 19 from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Archbishop Gilbert opened the summit with a prayer and a few opening remarks reminding the clergy, religious and finance officers gathered of the need for accountability, responsibility, transparency and efficiency in all Church financial matters.

The first speaker was Michael Toney, an accountant and member of the Archdiocesan Finance Committee. He spoke on "The Administration of the Goods of the Parish" and "The Administration of Church Goods".

For parish priests who sometimes feel like washing their hands from the demanding affairs of parish finance, attention was immediately drawn to Canon 532: "In all juridical matters, the parish priest acts in the person of the parish, in accordance with the law.

He is to ensure that the parish goods are administered in accordance with Canons 1281-1288". And for parishes without finance committees Canon 537 says they are mandatory.

Mr Toney then went on to point out that between 1994-2003 parish income totalled $74 million and fundraising for the same period totalled 61 million. Some statistical charts provided confirmed this upward mobility.

All the more reason, he said, the Church must have fixed rules for governing such large sums of money. He then went on to list some dos and don'ts which we have heard at previous summits like the proper recording of income/expenditure; security regarding cheques; background check on persons appointed to finance committees, and the need for annual, independent parish audits.

Richard Young, Managing Director of Scotia Bank and chairman of Printing Services Ltd ( Catholic News ) was next. He jokingly said he wished some canon could be implemented for all Church monies to be banked at Scotia .

Failing that, he advised that all business conducted by various ministries in the Church should follow the same pattern as obtains for the parish i.e. there should be a board of management with a CEO; the CEO must have at least two assistants, and a budget cum business plan must be presented annually.

In his power point presentation Mr Young reminded us that the business plan must be a team effort and that accountability is non-negotiable.

At this point the Archbishop intervened to mention that not all commissions, secretariats and councils receive the funding they ask for: "Government may send their people on a commission but without a cheque."

This meant, he said, "There must be cut-backs." Maureen Arneaud, management consultant, followed Archbishop Gilbert. Ms Arneaud said that since a great idea does not necessarily gain approval in an organisation it must be supported by a sound plan. This meant that feasibility questions must be asked: whom will it serve; how will it be supported; is grown foreseen; is the expenditure justified etc?

Next comes the strategic focus and evaluation: vision, mission and objectives must be clearly stated and success measured.

Linking with Richard Young she also spoke of management of the project with clearly defined roles and responsibilities and skills needed. Next came marketing the plan through effective communication and implementing it.

Only after these stages are carried out can we now start talking funding or the resources available for carrying out the project. In all of this we must remember that the human capital is the most precious resource.

Christoph Huber speaks with Sr Mary Jean Ayow at the Archdiocesan Finance Summit.

Finally came Christoph Huber - the Adveniat representative for Latin America and the Caribbean - easily the best-dressed man on the set.

Mr Huber was clear, charming but firm, with the distinctive German resoluteness in his presentation.

He took us briefly into history to explain how Adveniat was formed. The organisation was really a grateful response to South America, especially countries like Argentina, Chile and Brazil, which helped rebuild Germany after World War II. He emphasised that Adveniat's underlying philosophy is not financial but theological - to express gratitude and be in solidarity with the Church in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Over the last 10 years Adveniat has given US $750 million to Latin American and the Caribbean and they obtain about 4000 requests per year.

Mr Huber insisted that projects must be well written and have a reasonable chance of success as well as be maintained over the years. He emphasised with a gentle firmness that Adveniat does not repay loans nor relieve debt and in this regard "we are immune to moral pressure."

He said each proposal is viewed with respect and they require "estimates not guesstimates". He said Adveniat is still committed to helping Trinidad and Tobago , but since the country appears wealthy to the average visitor, more attention will be given to poorer countries e.g. Grenada and Guyana.

He also said that in the future Adveniat would be paying more attention to the ongoing maintenance of projects they have funded as a condition for further funding.

Some final comments and suggestions were taken from the floor and Fr Rochard, Archdiocesan Financial Administrator, brought the day's proceedings to and end with a prayer and words of thanks to those who attended.